should 83 yr old mom trade in 99 camry? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

barryf · 03-02-2009, 07:39 PM

my mom is 83 years old, but in great shape, no mental or physical problems, and has pretty much said she'll stop driving when they pry her cold dead hands from the steering wheel! Here's her question: She has a 99 Camry LE with 44,000 miles, that she loves. Toyota dealer says it has some leaking gaskets, could use a new timing belt, about $650. No other known serious issues. If its my car, i'd fix it. But she's at point where she wants and needs a car that's dependable, wont break down even its its something minor.

Any experience with what's next to go on a ten year old car? i'm thinking alternator, water pump, that sort of thing. Really figure since she can afford a new Camry she should just get it (maybe sell her old one to me!)

***ASG14*** · 03-02-2009, 10:18 PM

44k miles? That damn car is still new! Keep it........

My 90 year old Nana has a '95 Corolla with 19k miles, and I told her not to get a new car (Even though she'll give me the car when she gets a new one).

Do the normal maintmence and your fine. What is the dealer's reason for changing the timing belt at 44k miles anyway?

camryvibe · 03-02-2009, 11:48 PM

I agree with ASG14 to keep the '99 Camry. Sure something could fail, but there's really no guarantee against that with a new car either. Either way she should probably have AAA to take care of an emergency. Sounds like she doesn't put too many miles per year on the car and I'd expect the Camry to remain very reliable transportation for many more years. My impression looking through these forums is that there are quite a few reports of problems from owners of new cars and quite a few from owners of 120K+ cars - but not that many in between. If she's comfortable and used to her current Camry then I wouldn't let the potential issue of reduced reliability be the deciding factor - it may very well not be the case at all. Of course if she'd really like a new car then by all means encourage her to buy one and you can probably get a very reliable ride by taking over her old Camry.

44K miles sounds quite early for a timing belt - they're usually not changed until 90K (I let ours go too long and it broke at 145K miles so I wouldn't recommend waiting that long). The water pump is frequently replaced at the same time as the timing belt since most of the labor is the same.

TexanF250 · 03-02-2009, 11:54 PM

I ended up with a Buick that had been in the family like this. 10 years old with less than 20K miles. There were an awful lot of plastice and rubber parts that started to fail. Vacuum lines, coolant hoses, brake lines, trim pieces, wire insulation, plastic connectors, particlarly on the interior would suddenly snap for no reason even though they still looked like they had just come out of the package. This wan't a real big deal for me but had it been my grandmother it may have been a different story. Mind you this car sat outside in her driveway in Houston where the heat is not so kind to these types of materials.

Cars, like boats, are much more reliable when they are being driven unless they are kept in some sort of climate controlled environment during the non-use period.

Your grandmother is 83 years old. If she wants a new car, I say she should get one. If you like her current car, offer to buy it from her for whatever the dealer would give for it in trade. Fair deal for everyone.

Mike Gerber · 03-03-2009, 01:06 PM

"my mom is 83 years old, but in great shape, no mental or physical problems,"

I don't think your mother should stop driving, based on what you stated. I have an 84 year old father-in-law and I hope I am in as good a shape as he is, when and if I reach that age. I see no reason for him to stop driving either. What I am saying is it really depends on the individual. Here in Illinois after a certain age (I believe it somewhere around 70 or 72), drivers must take a driving test every 2 years. My father-in-law has had no problems passing these tests. Does PA. have similiar law? One thing you might want to suggest to your mom is that AARP gives a safe driving course for people over 50 in most areas, that is available for a very low cost. You might want to ask your mother if she would be interested in taking that course. Many insurance companies offer a discount to those who have completed the course. You could ask her if she would be interested in taking the course, if for no other reason than for your peace of mind.

As far as the timing belt, I would just leave it alone until the 90,000 mile recomendation. Along with my 2 Camrys I also have a 1990 Mazda Miata with only 41,000 miles on it. It's a warm weather fun car for the wife and I. It still has the original timing belt in it. I have a friend who is a Mazda tech and he says 60.000 miles, period. If your mom's car's timing belt ever does break (highly unlikely before the 90,000 mile interval) the car will just stop running, as these engines are non-interference engines. Does your mother have a cell phone and does she carry it with her at all times, just in case?

As far as the leaks, it really depends on what is leaking and how much is leaking. Remember, a dealer's main concern is how to put money in their pockets. I have seen too many dealers try to take advantage of elderly drivers with scare tactics; my father-in-law being one of them.

Just my 2 cents.

Mike

islandboy57 · 03-03-2009, 05:45 PM

Ask her if having a new car would make her feel *much* more comfortable/safe as far as breaking down goes - if that's not a huge deal to her, keeping the old Camry running sounds like the best idea. However.. Since she can afford it, I think an '09 Corolla might be a good choice. It's got all the safety features of the Camry [minus the knee airbag] and it's more like the gen 4 in terms of size.

barryf · 03-03-2009, 05:54 PM

thanks for all the replys! again, if it was my own car, no decision at all, keep it! but for questions on why replace the timing belt, here's what dealer Rx says:

"customer states fluid leaking from engine area (true). tech found slight leak from timing cover area. recommend replacing cam/crank and oil pump seals. will need valve cover gasket. plug seasl, front engine seals and timing belt replacement. cost of repair $647 plus tax."

my mom has a lot of trust in this toyota dealer, and she doesn't give that out lightly! they're saying its a minor problem but the cost is in time to take off all the parts to get to where the leak is happening. i forget if they said to replace the timing belt while they're in there anyway, that's my guess. also told her it isn't urgent but should be done sometime because the oil leaks may mess up some parts internally?

if she does get a new car and i buy the old one, anyone have experience with that kind of repair. i've done relatively simple stuff but not these things.

cell phone is a good idea, she has one but i dont know if she carries it all the time. she does drive regular, keeps the car in a garage.

TexanF250 · 03-03-2009, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barryf

thanks for all the replys! again, if it was my own car, no decision at all, keep it! but for questions on why replace the timing belt, here's what dealer Rx says:

"customer states fluid leaking from engine area (true). tech found slight leak from timing cover area. recommend replacing cam/crank and oil pump seals. will need valve cover gasket. plug seasl, front engine seals and timing belt replacement. cost of repair $647 plus tax."

my mom has a lot of trust in this toyota dealer, and she doesn't give that out lightly! they're saying its a minor problem but the cost is in time to take off all the parts to get to where the leak is happening. i forget if they said to replace the timing belt while they're in there anyway, that's my guess. also told her it isn't urgent but should be done sometime because the oil leaks may mess up some parts internally?

if she does get a new car and i buy the old one, anyone have experience with that kind of repair. i've done relatively simple stuff but not these things.

cell phone is a good idea, she has one but i dont know if she carries it all the time. she does drive regular, keeps the car in a garage.

I think the dealer is being straight with you guys. Correct, the parts are not that expensive but there are some items to move out of the way and there is some time to clean up the mess and prep the gasket surfaces, etc. He's also correct instating that it doesn't need to be dealt wth right now but you do want to take care of it at some point.

Doing these repairs yourself should not be that big a deal. Might take a day or so if you haven't done it before.

Mike Gerber · 03-04-2009, 10:58 AM

""customer states fluid leaking from engine area (true). tech found slight leak from timing cover area. recommend replacing cam/crank and oil pump seals. will need valve cover gasket. plug seasl, front engine seals and timing belt replacement. cost of repair $647 plus tax.""

If that's the case, I would have to agree with doing it all now. Just varify yourself or have an independent shop check for the source of the oil leak. If it is actually coming from the timing belt cover area, then what the dealer said is correct. If it is leaking from that area, then the timing belt will eventually be weakened by the oil leaking on it. This is a labor intensive repair compared to the parts cost. Since it will have to be repaired at some time, it is better to do it now, since it is now more likely that the timing belt is eventually going to break. With the low mileage that your mother is putting on the car it should be the last timing belt the car will need.

Mike

DFBonnett · 03-05-2009, 04:17 PM

"customer states fluid leaking from engine area (true). tech found slight leak from timing cover area. recommend replacing cam/crank and oil pump seals. will need valve cover gasket. plug seasl, front engine seals and timing belt replacement. cost of repair $647 plus tax."

That $647 would seem to be a lot less than just the sales tax on a new Camry. In your Mom's place, I'd get the work done and fell pretty good that I had saved about $20K. With 44K on it, the car is not even at 1/4 of it's expected life. My wife's '93 wagon has about the same mileage and similar small leaks which I will attend to, or have attended to, as time allows.

canddmeyer · 03-05-2009, 04:28 PM

Keep it!

TexanF250 · 03-05-2009, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFBonnett

"customer states fluid leaking from engine area (true). tech found slight leak from timing cover area. recommend replacing cam/crank and oil pump seals. will need valve cover gasket. plug seasl, front engine seals and timing belt replacement. cost of repair $647 plus tax."

That $647 would seem to be a lot less than just the sales tax on a new Camry. In your Mom's place, I'd get the work done and fell pretty good that I had saved about $20K. With 44K on it, the car is not even at 1/4 of it's expected life. My wife's '93 wagon has about the same mileage and similar small leaks which I will attend to, or have attended to, as time allows.

Agreed but .....

If mom wants a new car, she wants a new car. She's 83 and can probably pretty well get away with doing anything whe wants. I wouldn't get rid of the current car though.